by Heather Long
Not even a little. My nerves had nerves. I glanced up to find the guys all studying me. Each one had a confident look on their face, but Coop managed to cross his eyes and Archie stuck his tongue out at me.
Real mature.
“I can do this,” I said. Ready or not.
“Excellent, as for you gentlemen,” Mr. Wittaker stated as he stood. “I don’t care what the judge asks or what is said in there. You four stay quiet. No outbursts. No rushing to her defense. No cutting off anyone else. Allow me to do my job. You are here as silent but very helpful support. Understood?”
One by one, they nodded, save for Archie, who just shrugged. Yet when I squeezed his hand, he summoned a smile and said, “Just make sure you do protect her.”
“Be nice,” I teased him and leaned up to brush a kiss to his lips. There was a scrape of shoe that seemed to cut right through the sudden silence, and I glanced over to find Maddy and Edward standing there.
They both wore shocked looks.
I didn’t smile.
I didn’t say anything. I just kissed Archie again and squeezed his hand.
Bad meatloaf didn’t move as we walked past them and into the courtroom. It was a lot more crowded than I would have expected, but Wittaker directed us to a couple of rows that were four seats wide. Ian and Jake grabbed the seats directly behind us, while Coop and Archie flanked Wittaker and myself. They had me as close to the corner as I could get.
The weight of Maddy’s stare bore into me, but I didn’t look at her. I didn’t say a word.
It was the longest ten minutes of my life before a clerk called out, “All rise.”
Chapter Fourteen
If I Deny Your Request…
Judge Andrew Novak seemed a huge man when he walked in wearing a black robe, but I didn’t think he was as tall as he appeared. His pate shone under the lights, and a faint half-coronet of graying brown hair wrapped the back of his head. The hard expression on his face eased as he smiled at the court reporter, then the bailiff, but the warmth drained away when he glanced out at all of us.
The courtroom was pretty full. My pulse rabbited at the look he wore. “Call the first case,” he said, moving a stack of folders to the side and pulling one down to open as two people were called and they went up with their lawyers.
It was an evidentiary hearing, and even though we were all in the same room, I could barely hear the people presenting to the judge. When he asked them questions though, I heard those just fine. It didn’t take him long to decide on that case. He gave an order, signed something in the folder, handed it off to someone, and those people were out.
“Next…”
And so it went for the next hour. At some point, my right knee began to bob as hot and cold flushed through my system. I wanted to take off the jacket, but I had a feeling sweat stains on my underarms would be far less attractive than the warmth. Even the air in here had started to turn stale. Had I even put on deodorant that morning?
A hand settled over my knee and the gentle pressure eased the dancing, and I glanced over to find Archie studying me. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to, it was written all over his face. Fixing this whole situation was high on his priority list, but I wasn’t alone. They were all here with me. The quivering inside me didn’t go away, but it did slow down, and I blew out a breath.
Archie squeezed my knee gently, and then I linked my fingers with his again. My palms were sweaty, but then so were his. Neither of us let go. If I turned around, I’d see Jake and Ian. If I looked left, I’d find Wittaker and Coop.
I wasn’t alone.
It was another hour before they called my name, and I’d been digging half-moons into Archie’s hand by then, but he didn’t pull away.
“…Francesca Curtis.”
Fuck, I hated that name.
Wittaker moved with me, and Coop brushed my leg with his as I passed him. We stepped out into the center area and up to the table.
“Is the minor’s legal guardian or parent present?” the judge asked, looking at the latest file folder in front of him rather than at me. To be honest, I hadn’t looked back to see if bad meatloaf had stuck around.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Maddy stated as she arrived.
Fucking great, she stood at the same table where we were, along with a man in a suit who was presumably her attorney. Honestly, I didn’t look over at him because my stomach was roiling, and I didn’t need to embarrass myself by throwing up.
“Is it Mrs. or Ms. Curtis?” the judge asked, still studying the paperwork in front of him.
“Ms.”
“And the other gentleman you attended with today?”
Holy shit, the judge noticed that?
“My fiancé,” she stated, not missing a beat. What? Not going to call him my father, Maddy? The question was on the tip of my tongue, but I stayed quiet.
“Is he involved in any of the custodial arrangements?” The judge seemed to focus on her now. Man, he had resting asshole face. I was really glad he wasn’t looking at me.
“No.” One answer, short and clipped. There was just an edge to that single syllable too.
“I’m not seeing anything in the paperwork about a legal father,” the judge said as he continued to flip through the papers. “Mr. Wittaker, when you filed this with the court, I am assuming you did your due diligence.”
“I did, Your Honor.” Wittaker spoke with confidence and ease. “If you will look in the exhibits section, I have included certified copies of Miss Curtis’ birth certificate, as well as every school enrollment from pre-school through her current year. There is no father identified on any of the documentation.”
The judge frowned, then glanced at Maddy before he focused on me. “Miss Curtis? Or do you prefer Francesca?”
Great. He asked me a question. “Honestly, sir, I would prefer Frankie.” Fuck. “I mean, Your Honor. Sorry.”
He smiled, a bare flicker, and it eased some of the sternness in his expression. “Sir is fine, Frankie. Is it all right if I call you that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Frankie, have you ever met your father?”
“No, sir.” I didn’t hesitate, and I didn’t turn around to see what Eddie’s reaction was. I also ignored Maddy. Thankfully, Wittaker stood between us so I didn’t have to see her.
He nodded once. “Do you know his name?”
“No, sir.”
The judge glanced at the paperwork in front of him. “So you have no relationship with anyone who fills the role of father?”
“No, sir. It was always Ms. Curtis and myself.”
Yep. Not even going to call her Maddy right now.
The judge nodded again.
“Ms. Curtis,” he said, and I almost sagged at being out from under his focus, even if it wasn’t as bad as I expected. “You were not married at the time of Frankie’s birth?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“You have never been married.” It wasn’t a question.
“No, Your Honor.”
I kind of wondered where the judge was going with this, but I couldn’t exactly ask.
The judge wrote something down. “Ms. Curtis, are you aware that your daughter has filed paperwork to legally sever herself from you and that an earlier court granted her emergency and temporary emancipation ahead of this proceeding?”
“Of course I’m aware.”
Oh, someone didn’t like that. I sucked my upper lip between my teeth.
“And you didn’t contest the emergency order?”
“No, I was not present in the state when the order went through, and I only found out about it after the fact.” Yep. She was pissed. Maddy did not like to be made to look bad. “Your Honor,” she tacked on, almost as an afterthought.
Another half-nod, then the judge looked at me. Pen down, he folded his hands together and leaned forward. The scrutiny in that gaze had me standing up a little straighter.
“Frankie, do you think you are doing well enough to be in charge of your
own life?”
“I do, sir.”
“Can you tell me why you think that?”
“Because I’ve been in charge of it for a few years now. I’ve certainly been in charge of it for over a year, particularly after Ms. Curtis’ frequent absences for ‘work’ that began last spring and escalated over the summer. “
“You traveled yourself this past Christmas.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where did you go?”
“To a place in Colorado owned by a friend’s grandfather.”
“A boyfriend’s?”
“Yes, sir.”
The judge nodded. “What did you do during your time there?”
“Learned how to ski. Talked about college. Played video games. Read books. Hung out with my best friends. Celebrated Christmas. Got away from the crazy.”
The judge smiled. “Sounds like a lot of fun.”
“It was.”
“You’ve also been awarded at least two considerable scholarships in the last few months, one from a place you work?”
I blew out a breath. “Yes, sir.”
“Tell me about the scholarship?” He framed it like a request, but I got the impression it wasn’t one, and since Wittaker didn’t interfere, I answered it. It didn’t take long, but then he wanted to know about Mason’s, how long had I worked there, the hours I worked, then he asked about the second job with the food delivery and why I’d needed that.
Finally, he said, “While I’m not going to ask you to go into too much detail, your records also indicate you are in therapy. In fact, your psychologist has written a glowing recommendation for you with regard to your independence and maturity. She’s not alone. I have recommendations here from your manager at Mason’s, several teachers, and friends of the family, as well as the parents of all of your friends.”
Wait, what?
All of them?
“I have to say, young lady, this is an impressive list of accolades and character references. If I deny your petition for emancipation today, what will you do?”
My gut dropped, but I kept my focus on the judge. “The same thing I’ll do if you grant it, sir. I’ll go back to my apartment, catch up on my homework, and get ready for school tomorrow. I might be a little upset and vent to my friends.”
The judge gave me another one of those smiles.
“Your Honor,” Maddy said. “May I speak?”
“No,” the judge said. “You may not.”
Shock locked me in place, because the judge barely looked at her.
“Your Honor,” her attorney tried.
“I said no, Mr. Alden,” the judge stated. “Ms. Curtis has had ample opportunity to be present in the last year. According to all records, she moved out several months ago. She has ceased all support, financial or otherwise. Her legal address was changed with the postal service. I have notations here that during a hospitalization for Frankie following an assault, Ms. Curtis was unreachable. She also did not pay any of the hospital expenses.”
That, I hadn’t even thought about. I hadn’t seen any hospital bills at all.
Archie.
I blew out a shaky breath.
“Frankly, I don’t see why I should deny the petition at all when clearly Frankie has been living independently and managing very well, based on grade point average, scholarships, and college acceptances, and all the while, maintaining employment.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. I turned eighteen in a month. If he denied me, I’d be okay. I’d made it this far, I could make it a few more weeks.
“While I find Frankie’s determination and, dare I say, ‘grit’ commendable, I find it absolutely appalling that someone her age has had to fend for herself when she has the reasonable expectation of parental support. You were a single mother, Ms. Curtis, and while you may have been the only parent she had, that was a choice you made and a choice you then abdicated. Frankly, I think you should be ashamed of yourself, and if I had the power to charge you with neglect, I would.”
Holy.
Shit.
“As it is, all I can do is free your daughter from any legal obligations you’ve already walked away from and give her the freedom to make decisions she may need to make with regard to her colleges and future. My only other regret is I couldn’t give it to her sooner.” He looked at me with a nod. “Frankie, I’m granting your request for emancipation. Good luck, young lady. I think you’ve got a bright future in front of you.”
He said something else, but there was a small cheer behind me from the guys, and he glared past me a moment, even if the corner of his mouth twitched.
“All paperwork will be processed, Mr. Wittaker. I’m assuming you can take it from here?”
“I can, Your Honor. Thank you.”
He nodded again, and that was it. We were being motioned away, but I hesitated and the judge looked at me. I mouthed ‘thank you,’ and he gave me the first real smile I’d seen since he arrived. Then Wittaker was taking my arm. As I turned, I met the full wrath of Maddy’s icy glare, but I ignored her as my attorney guided me over toward a clerk, who was motioning to us.
Maddy snagged my arm, but her attorney grabbed her wrist and there was a frigid three seconds of a stand-off. Eddie appeared as I tugged my arm free, and he frowned as he glanced from me to Maddy, but I ignored them as Wittaker urged me away. They were already calling the next case, but I barely heard any of it.
It was done.
I was emancipated.
Free.
I signed where Wittaker gestured for me to sign and then accepted the packet I was offered. I was still a little dazed when we left the courtroom a different way from how we’d come in, and I frowned until Wittaker motioned up the hall where the guys were waiting.
“Yes!” Coop said, both arms high. He scooped me up as soon as I got to them, and then Jake tugged me into a hug and finally Ian. Archie was the only one who lagged back. I clung to Ian for a long moment, the shakes seeming to rock me, and he rubbed my back soothingly. Finally, I lifted my head to look for Archie and found him glaring at bad meatloaf, who also stood there waiting.
“Archie,” I said, and even in the busy hall with all the people and background noise, he heard me and pulled his gaze away to look at me. I raised my eyebrows. We’d discussed this. He and his grandfather were waiting for the right time.
Was now the right time?
His eyebrows dipped briefly as he looked from me toward bad meatloaf and then back. His eyebrows raised. Was I up for it?
Even if my insides shook like a fucking leaf in a tornado, I was ready. I had his back.
I nodded.
“Guys,” I murmured. “It’s time.”
“You be careful,” Ian answered in the same quiet tone. “We’re going to be right behind you.”
I nodded and then grinned at Mr. Wittaker, even as Archie approached bad meatloaf. “Thank you,” I told him. “For everything. You’re my hero.”
He chuckled. “You’re very welcome, Frankie. It helps that I agree with the judge. You’ve more than earned the right to call your own shots. I’ll take care of everything from here, and once the final papers come through, I’ll make sure you have copies. Though you won’t need more than what you have right now.”
I hugged that little packet to myself.
“Want me to hang onto that?” Coop asked, and I handed it over as he pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Also, we have plans tonight.”
We did?
Jake just grinned and nodded, though the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was watching bad meatloaf behind us.
“We do,” he confirmed. “Archie knows, and you’ll have plenty of time to change. Just keep that in mind.”
“Go on, Angel,” Ian urged me. “Go rip this Band-Aid off so the two of you can be done with this once and for all.”
I gave him a quick kiss, then pressed another to the corner of Jake’s mouth before I pivoted. Shoulders square, I headed for Archie. He held out a hand just as I arrived, and I
clasped his hand in mine.
“All right, Edward,” he said. “We’re ready for that conversation.”
“I don’t see why we need to have this,” Maddy sniped. Yep. She was still pissed.
“Because, Maddy,” I told her. “It’s time we were all on the same page. You. Me. Archie. Mr. Standish.”
The older man nodded. “Agreed.” He took Maddy’s arm, and I swore his knuckles whitened. “Shall we?”
“After you,” Archie told them, and Edward gave us a nod before he moved and hauled Maddy with him. The look she shot me over her shoulder was pure venom. Tugging me closer, Archie said, “Still time for you to get out of this, babe.”
“She doesn’t scare me anymore,” I promised him. “And after what we just went through? I’m looking forward to paying her back.”
He grinned. “I love my little badass.”
I snorted and bumped his hip. “You haven’t seen badass.”
“Yet,” he teased as we followed them. Behind us, Jake, Ian, and Coop followed us. I didn’t know where they’d decided to do this meeting, but the guys were going to be there for us, and a part of me hoped Maddy was ready.
Because no way was I pulling this punch.
She fucking deserved it.
Chapter Fifteen
Then She Saved Him Right Back
We followed bad meatloaf through the courtroom halls and outside. The cold air hit me and reminded me of all the sweating I’d done. For a split second, I really hoped I didn’t stink. I had put on deodorant, right? But I dismissed those thoughts before they could take root. There was a limo waiting for us. Maddy was already sliding inside, but Archie’s father waited for both of us to get there.
“It’s all right,” Archie murmured against my ear. “They know where we’re going.”
I nodded and let him help me inside first, while not paying one ounce of attention to Mr. Standish. I wasn’t alone with Maddy for long. The limo had a long U shape seat that curved all along the other side. Maddy sat at the curve nearer the driver, so I took the bench at the back. Archie followed me inside and planted himself next to me. Edward was the last inside, and he took a seat next to Maddy. The driver closed the door, and then we were alone, the four of us, in the close confines of the stretched car.